Bakari makes a positive start at National Boxing League in Vihiga

Boxer Shaffi Bakari during the team's training session at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi on August 6, 2019.[Stafford Ondego,Standard]

Africa Zone Three bantamweight gold medallist Shaffi Bakari defeated Joe Kipkoech of Nakuru to make a good start as the first leg of the National Boxing League boxed-off in Vihiga County on Thursday.

The victory ensured Bakari, who featured in the featherweight division, romp into the semi-finals set for Friday.

"We are taking a match at a time until I get to the finals," Bakari told Standard Sports.

In other featherweight bouts, homeboy Boaz Abuga secured a points' win over Bratan Job of Homa Bay as Kombo Mwinyi of Kenya Prisons booked his semis ticket after he beat Robert Gichuhi of Nairobi before the referee stopped the contest rule in the first round.

In the lightweight matches, Amos Amenya of Prisons beat Abraham Shisia of Trans Nzoia in the RSC first round after Abdul Mangeni of Busia had been stopped by experienced Ethan Maina of Kenya Police in a similar fashion.

Experienced Washington Wandera of Kenya Defence Forces had a rude shock when he was beaten by Jasper Otieno of Kisumu in the RSC second round.

In other matches of the same weight, Elisha Omondi of Homa Bay and Samuel Njomo of Vihiga lost to Benson Kamau of Kibra and Wycliffe Jesire of Nairobi on points respectively.